Check-room appliance



March 22,1927. 1,621,792

F. E. KLEIN CHECK ROOM APPLIANCE Filed May 28. 1925 NVENTOR 4 BY ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

anna V FRED E. KLEIN, F CINCINNATLOHIO.

CHECK-noon APPLIANCE.

Application filed May 28, 1925. Seri'a1 ITO/33,577.

My invention relates to check room appliances whereby coats are suspended on books and checks given therefor, and whereby a compact and simple arrangement of hooks and number plates is provided and an indicator device is provided for quick identitication.

In an application for patent filed by me Serial No. 720,207, filed June 16, 1924, I have shown and described a particular form of coat and hat rack for check rooms in which double hooks are provided, so that each hook will take two coats, and identify them in connection with a check number.

The present invent-ion relates to an improvement over the invention set forth in said application in which an identification or indication device is provided in connection with the double hook arrangement.

IVhile the indication device is valuable in connection with other than a double hook coat rack, it is of particular value in connection with double hook racks, because in such racks it is easy for an employee to make a mistake in the proper number to apply to the proper side of any given double hook.

The time when speed and accuracy are required of check room employees is during the time when delivering articles that have been checked, because very often a large group will demand their coats at one and the same time, whereas the time of checking in is usually well distributed.

My design of rack and hook provides for a great number of hooks in a very small amount of floor space, and allows the garments to hang in their natural position to retain their shape.

My indicating device forming the basis of this application is readily and quickly operated to indicate by a pointer of suitable character any numbered coat on a rack, whether the hooks be double or single, and in connection with double hooks is of particular value, in avoiding confusion.

I accomplish my objects by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed outand claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a rack embodying my new improvements.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the rack.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken through the rack, at any selected point.

As a form of rack I have chosen for illustrative purposes, a-standard 1, which will be duplicated at the ends and middle of a full length rack to give adequate support. A board 2 extends along the top of the rack being supported by the standards, and extending forwardly so as to overhang a ver tical lengthwise board 3,*which alsoextends along the rack at a suitable elevation to receive coat hooks. Y

ierlong the forward edges of the board 2 are placed theidentification number plates 4, and below and in back, but in a vertical plane corresponding with that of the number plates, are arranged in staggered series, the double coat hooks 5. It will be noted that the identification numbers are in pairs, one above each prong of the double hooks.

Mounted lengthwise of the structure and just beneath the forward edge of the top board 2, in the form illustrated, is a square bar 6, on which is aslider 7. The sliderhas a handle 8 by means of which it is maniplr lated and an indicator finger 9, which passes along the front edge of the board 2, so as to point to the identification number plates.

There is a plate orarm 10 extending inwardly fromthe slider, along the underside of the board, which arm may be given a sup port on a bar 11, secured near the back of the board. The arm merely rests upon and slides along this bar.

Secured to a downwardly bent end 12 of the arm, is a flexible indicator finger 13, whose plane of movement as the slider is pushed along on the rod, is in front of and slightly above the row of hooks.

In its preferred form I make the finger 13 of a piece of heavy leather, so as to be flexible enough not to injure the collars of fine coats, but stiff enough to act as a safe indicator.

In use there will be checks that are hung on the idle hooks and removed and handed to the customer, upon hanging his coat upon any hook. When the customer presents his check the operator graps the handle of the Slider and moves it along until the indicator finger 9 is at the number of the check. Then he glances down the indicator finger 13, and picks off the coat to which it points.

There is no chance of being confused. in picking the coat from the correct side of a double hook, and no chance of confusing hooks arranged in the staggered series.

The device would be a time saver and safety element in any coat rack, however.

The customers hat is placed on the top shelf opposite his number, and a tag is inserted in the outside band or ribbon of the hat, or pinned on the brim of the hat. The closer the hooks are arranged the more necessity for having a tag to place on or in a hat, for each customer.

It is notintended, by reason of description of but one mode of providing for the improvement, now described in a single embodiment, to thereby bind myself to the one form of construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A coat rack having a series of coat hooks thereon, a slider, means for supporting the slider so as to move along above the hooks, and in a vertical plane forwardly of the hooks, a series of hook numbers arranged above the slider and indicator means on the slider to indicate numbers and to indicate hooks, for the purpose described.

2. In a coat rack having a row of hooks, a row of identification numbers arranged above the hooks, a slider mounted to move along above the row of hooks, and an indicator on the slider pointing to numbers and pointing to hooks, for the purpose described.

3. In a coat rack having a row of hooks, a row of identification numbers arranged above the hooks, a slider mounted to move along with said rows, and having means to indicate numbers and to indicate hooks, for the purpose described.

4. In a coat rack having a row of hooks, a row of identification numbers arranged above the hooks, a slider mounted to move along the row of numbers, and having an indicator to indicate hooks.

5. In a coat rack having a row o'l hooks, a row of identification numbers arranged above the hooks, a slider mounted to move along the row of numbers, and having an indicator to indicate hooks, said indicator being formed of flexible material.

' 6. In a coat rack, a hat board, a coat boa rd having hooks thereon depending from the hat board at a back portion thereof, a row of numbers arranged to correspond to the arrangement of hooks, mounted on the front edge of the hat board, and a slider mounted to move along parallel to the row of numbers, and having an indicator to indicate hooks corresponding to the numbers.

7 In a coat rack, a series of hooks having diverging double coat hanger prongs, a support mounted above the hooks and having a series of numbers thereon, arranged in pairs to indicate by number each hook prong, a slider arranged to move along the rack and having means for indicating numbers and for indicating corresponding hook prongs, for the purpose described.

8. In a coat rack, a series of hooks arranged in a staggered row, support having a series of numbers thereon, indicating cor responding hooks, said numbers being in a single horizontal plane, a slider movable along the number row, and having an indicator to point toward corresponding hooks, for the purpose described.

FRED E. KLEIN. 

